Page 84 of The Echo of Violence

“I get you,” she whispers.

“Good.” He finishes cleaning her up while I use the bathroom before trading places with Knight.

I spot her wheelchair. Instead of asking if she needs it, I push it toward the bed. I have a feeling if I asked, she’d decline.

“What else do you need?” I ask, moving to stand beside Splinter. I offer her my hand and tug her up into a sitting position.

“Um… underwear and a T-shirt. Top drawer and the one below it. I’m going to take a shower.”

“Do you need help?”

She blows out a breath. “No.” Her answer is firm. There’s no anger, but I can see her tense, waiting for us to argue with her.

“Okay. Just call us if you need anything.” I look back as Knight exits the bathroom before making my way to the dresser and grabbing a pair of yellow cotton underwear and an oversized T-shirt. I lay them on the bed and then hover like the other two.

Jinx looks at us and huffs out a laugh. “Is this because of this?” She points to her lower half. “Or because you usually just have to slap a woman on the ass before leaving? I’ve never seen three people look so uncomfortable before. You can leave, you know,” she says, the last part far softer. “I won’t think less of any of you.”

“Why the fuck would we leave when we finally have you where we want you? I’m just wondering if it would be considered rude if I raid your fridge,” Knight admits.

Jinx grins widely. “Help yourself. I’m starving, too, so if you know how to cook, even better. I’ll meet you out there when I’m done.”

“Kicking us out already. So cold. Man, bikers never get to snuggle.” Splinter pouts, taking a leaf from Knight’s book by keeping the mood light.

“I’ll snuggle you,” Knight offers, opening his arms wide. We all pretend not to notice as Jinx swiftly lifts herself from the bed and swings herself into the chair with ease.

“Fuck off. I’m not snuggling you.” Splinter pushes Knight out of the way before we head out of the bedroom, still naked.

I look back at Jinx, who watches us leave with a soft smile on her face I’ve never seen before. “Remember, yell if you need anything. I’ll try to keep them from burning the kitchen down.”

“What?”

“I’m kidding. Sorta,” I mutter as I head back to the living room, where Splinter and Knight are getting dressed. I follow suit. There is only so much of their junk I can bear to see before I need to bleach my eyeballs.

“So…?” Splinter looks back toward the bedroom before glancing at us.

“I’m still in. I wasn’t sure about sharing her with you both. I won’t lie. But it took nothing away from what me and Jinx shared. It only enhanced it.”

“Agreed. I was planning on sitting out after I fucked her, but I stood in the doorway, watching you both with her. And fuck, I can’t really put into words how it felt. It sure as hell wasn’t jealousy. I wanted to be right in there with you both,” Knight says seriously when he answers. Both of us look at Splinter.

“I already knew how I felt. I just wanted to see how she would react to having us all. It’s all good in theory, but I was worried she’d freak.”

Knight nods. “There were moments she tensed. I could feel that some parts of that were hard for her, but once she let go, she went all in.”

“She wants this, but she won’t take shit from us. I get the feeling there will be no second chances. If we fuck up, we lose her. She’s not the forgiving type.”

“I can’t guarantee I won’t fuck up. I know me too well, but I won’t hurt her on purpose,” Knight says truthfully.

Splinter doesn’t say anything at all for a minute as we continue to get dressed. I wait him out, and when he’s ready, he looks up at me, and I can see the resolve in his eyes.

“She’s either all of ours or mine. I won’t walk away for anyone. I’m keeping her. So you two can argue over the details, but I don’t give a fuck.”

“I think we might need to convince her first. Letting us fuck her isn’t the same as her letting us into her life,” Knight warns him as we head to the kitchen.

Knight moves to the fridge and grabs a few bottles of beer before handing them to us.

“We’ll just talk to her.”

Knight looks at me like I’ve lost my mind.

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